Sympathy to the family and friends of Ray Francis who passed away last week at the age of 91. He and his family made their home in this community before moving to Murfreesboro.

Although Friday the 25th was a 2-hour-late day for school, Auburn students and faculty with many parents and some grandparents enjoyed a trip to Nashville where they saw the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

It began with a breakfast at Prosperity Baptist Church Sunday the 27th. The event was Baptist Men's Day. Bro. Jimmy Arms from Upper Helton Baptist was the guest speaker. During the morning worship service, Tim Reed and Wade Gatlin gave their testimonies while the evening service was given by Henry Walker and Derrick Satterfield.

Sunday at our house was a belated birthday celebration for Tim Reed. Celebrating with him were his family, DeAnna, Janna, Alayna and Adrianna Reed, Chase Isenhart and Ray, Anita and Daxton Patrick, Kyle, Shannon and Kullon Patrick and Sam, Bethany and Rylon Morrison.

He and Janna stayed long enough to eat and then out for Mt. Juliet to see and obtain signatures of Atlanta Braves pitchers, especially Brandon Beachy which was making Janna hyperventilate!!

The top ten of the year for Auburn School has been decided: Valedictorian - Seth Seamans, Salutatorian - Alyssa Whited, rounding out the rest are Tyler King, Hannah Whited, Samantha Gaither, Sarah Hood, Emma Davenport, Houston Dorris, Kirsten Garrison and Ryan Baines. Congratulations.

It's Juicy time! A note regarding last week's remembrance is credited to Tom Allen. This week Jimmy Mingle is credited with the famous saying.

Houston Burns lived about half-way up the hill going out of Auburn. In order to start his car because of a weak battery, he would park it out on the road and let it roll down the hill. One day it rolled all the way to the bridge in town and still had not started. Mr. Burns got out of his car and walked back to Bunt's Garage where Juicy was working and asked what he needed to do to get his car started. Without looking up from his work, Juicy replied,”Spect ya need to park it higher on the hill.”

Celebrating birthdays this week are Jaylene Bobo Johnson, on the 6th Melissa Gilley and Pedro Lara on the 7th. Emily O'Neal Crook, Austin Mears, Amy Ayers and Rhonda Goff all add a year on the 8th. Gregg Goff's is the 9th. Tollie Cantrell and Janie Witty get cake and ice cream on the 10th. You can wish a happy birthday to DeAnna Reed, Susan Turney and Deb Parks all on the 11th which finishes up this week. Happy birthday ya'll.

Happy 19th anniversary to Mark and April Melton. It's been 36th years ago for Mark and Karen Stinnett and and 48 years ago for Stan and Jan Dobson all on the 12th day of February. Happy anniversary to all 3 couples.

If you have news for this column, please e-mail me at apatrick@dtccom.net, or call 464-4310 and leave a message if no answer.